Salud. Dignidad. Justicia.

Key health care reform provisions begin today

Today marks the six-month anniversary of the President signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This milestone means a number of provisions from the landmark legislation kick in:

Insurance companies are no longer allowed to cancel your health insurance policy if you get sick.

Insurance companies will no longer be able to set lifetime medical cost coverage limits or “unreasonable” annual limits.

All new programs will be required to completely cover preventive health services. This includes important reproductive health services such as Pap smears.

Children will no longer be able to be denied insurance policies due to “pre-existing conditions.”

There is, however, much work remaining to be done. The health safety net for all immigrants continues to unravel and it is still unclear whether the Women’s Health Amendment – that will make sure all women’s health preventive care services are available at no cost-sharing – will include birth control in the definition of “preventive care.” NLIRH has been working tirelessly to ensure that the health care reform implementation includes the needs of women and families in our communities. Our activists have been engaged in unprecedented numbers – evidence that the women in our communities know more than anyone else how deeply health care reform is needed. Stay tuned for how you can help us win these fights!